Online Reporter
Online Reporter
ZIMBABWE’S National Development Strategy 2 (NDS-2) is positioning sport as a powerful driver of tourism and economic growth.
Rather than treating sport as a stand-alone activity, the strategy links it directly to tourism, culture and infrastructure development — turning matches and tournaments into business opportunities for the country.
The thinking is simple: sporting events attract visitors, and visitors spend money. When fans travel, hotels fill up, restaurants serve more customers and transport operators record higher business.
From football matches with regional appeal to golf, cricket and endurance events that naturally attract leisure travellers, NDS-2 seeks to transform sport into a consistent tourism draw. It marks a shift from viewing sport as an expense to recognising it as an investment.
Deputy Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry Tongai Mnangagwa said the strategy provides direction for unlocking sport tourism’s full potential.
“NDS-2 allows us to position sport as an economic enabler. When sport is planned alongside tourism, we are not just hosting matches or tournaments, we are marketing Zimbabwe to the region and the world,” said deputy Minister Mnangagwa.
Under the strategy, sporting calendars are expected to align with peak tourism seasons, while facilities are upgraded to meet international hosting standards.
Stronger partnerships between sporting associations, local authorities and the hospitality industry are also being encouraged.
Importantly, NDS-2 promotes hosting events beyond major cities. Smaller towns and resort areas stand to benefit from increased visitor traffic, spreading income across the country.
Deputy Minister Mnangagwa stressed the the wide-reaching benefits of sport tourism.
Sports tourism is one of the clusters under the new tourism policy.
“Sport tourism has a ripple effect. Visitors come for the game, but they stay for the experience.
“Accommodation, transport, food, culture, all benefit. That is exactly what NDS-2 is designed to unlock,” he said.
While NDS-2 does not promise instant transformation, it lays the groundwork for sport tourism to become one of Zimbabwe’s most lucrative sectors — turning playing fields into platforms for marketing the nation and boosting economic activity.
